US artists damn 'war without limit'

TxDoc · June 15, 2002

http://www.guardian.co.uk/Archive/Article/...4433256,00.html

Duncan Campbell in Los Angeles

Guardian

Friday June 14, 2002

A group of leading American writers, actors and academics have signed a statement strongly criticising their government's policies since September 11. It is an indication of a growing feeling that the administration is promoting its own agenda on the back of the attacks.

In a statement called Not In Our Name, the signatories say the government has "declared a war without limit and instituted stark new measures of repression". They also criticise the media for failing to challenge the direction the government has taken.

They include the musicians Laurie Anderson and Mos Def, the actors Ossie Davis and Ed Asner, the writers Alice Walker, Russell Banks, Barbara Kingsolver and Grace Paley, and the playwrights Eve Ensler and Tony Kushner.

Martin Luther King III, Gloria Steinem, Noam Chomsky, Edward Said and Rabbi Michael Lerner have added their names, making this the widest ranging group of opponents of government policy since September 11.

Jeremy Pikser, one of the organisers of the statement, said yesterday that he had been concerned that the rest of the world was under the impression that there was no dissent in the US to the bombing of Afghanistan and the plans for a war against Iraq.

Pikser, a screenwriter who wrote Bulworth, a satire on American politics in which Warren Beatty played a politician who finally decided to speak his mind, said some people had been reluctant to add their names. "A lot of people haven't signed it, although they agree with it, because they think it might jeopardise other things they're involved in."

Clark Kissinger, another of the organisers, said they had been heartened by the number of people wanting to sign.

Mr Kissinger, one of the organisers of the first anti-Vietnam war marches on Washington in 1965, said he was receiving about 60 emails a day from people who wanted to add their name to the list.

"It's a shame that there's not a voice of opposition coming out of the United States."

The statement, which the signatories hope will be published by the American media, ssays: "We must take the highest officers of the land seriously when they talk of a war that will last a generation and when they speak of a new domestic order.

"We are confronting a new openly imperial policy towards the world and a domestic policy that manufactures and manipulates fear to curtail rights."

Support for the president's policies remains high, however, and those who appear critical of them have been accused of lacking patriotism.

It was announced last week that Bill Maher, host of the television show Politically Incorrect, has not had his contract renewed by ABC.

Maher was criticised for an exchange six days after September 11 in which he and a guest agreed that whatever else the hijackers were, they were not "cowardly."

carguru · June 15, 2002

That is just another prime example of liberalism run amok in this country. These are the same people that stand by and gripe that the government doesn't do enough to prevent bad things from happening, but when it is time to take action, gripe about how "unfair" the government is being. I get so ticked off at these people that just keep griping but do not offer a viable alternative solution. After all, isn't the mild hand slapping of these terrorists previously that made them do bolder and bolder acts? If the terrorists are not stopped at the root, what is next? If terrorists come in to try to take over our country, are these actors, writers, etc going to ask the media to sway public opinions to just let the terrorists take over because they are misunderstood? :angry:

June 15, 2002

I recognize two of the people in that article.

Am I to assume that Ed Asner and Ozzie Davis are trying to get there names back in the spotlight?

Who knows?

I guess what does matter is the fact that there is a minority group that doesn't want us to prevent attacks on the United States.

The article references some Clark Kissinger, who led Anti-Vietnam Demonstrations.

Is this an attempt to defile him or state his worth? Vietnam was a long time ago and a completely different set of circumstances.

I guess it's a good thing that these people are in the vast minority.

pacodiablo · June 15, 2002

WE WERE ATTACKED!! what do they expect us to do, kiss osama?!?! i don't think so! :angry:

hogger999 · June 15, 2002

I think the Government should take these people seriously.

I think they should march everyone on that list right up capitol hill, put them in the middle of the floor with a microphone and a big spotlight, and say O.K. You've complained about our actions. You've complained that the media is behind us. You've complained that "there isn't a voice of opposition coming out of the United States". Now you tell us what should we do?

All of these people wanting to sign it and signing are two different things.

The only people who's rights are really curtailed IMO are the ones shouting "death to America"

and I don't remember Bill Maher saying that was why he was not picked back up by ABC when he was on Larry King.

MarkD · June 15, 2002

I for one think another terrorist attack is inevitable, hopefully it will be on Hollywood.

Tobes · June 15, 2002

It is funny how folks in Hollywood are the first to be critical of us defending our (and their) way of life, yet they they will gladly do movies on that subject to line their pockets. I wonder how many of the new generation of folks in Hollywood ever served their country or is willing to make the ultimate sacrifice. It is very easy to be critical when your tail is not on the line. Let's send them over to the middle east and let them try to get the fighting to stop

jmhornz71 · June 16, 2002

Whatever happened to the people in Hollywood who said they would leave the country if George W was ever elected. They are still here making their millions and complaining about the gov't. As usual these liberals are all hot air when it comes to real action. Maybe if their precious million dollar estates were bombed they would think differently. I say take out whoever is a threat to our our way of life and country and if you don't like it leave.